Principles of the recently formed Engineering and Energy Development Company, Northern Bahamas Utilities Holdings Co. Ltd. paid a courtesy call on the Grand Bahama Port Authority, to introduce the company and to discuss how the firm can help the GBPA in addressing some of the challenges facing Grand Bahama. The Company brings a broad cross section of engineering expertise and technical solutions to businesses on the Island. The firm’s principals’ combined has more than one hundred (100) years of engineering, project management, environmental, safety, health, and security, and renewable and alternative energy experience in the electric and the water and sewerage industries.

During their visit, the firm principals highlighted that consistent with the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) vision to become the island of choice for global investment in The Bahamas; Northern Bahamas Utilities (NBU) Holdings Co. Ltd. is a Bahamian company that can facilitate foreign business or project startup.

NBU’s management is cognizant that teamwork is required for business investment in today’s global environment, and that through teamwork Grand Bahama stakeholders can improve the overall service for making foreign investment in Grand Bahama a pleasant and efficient process.

As part of the Grand Bahama business community, NBU can provide investors with the following services:

· Coordination of Firm’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)- NBU can facilitate the development of a firm’s EIA to The Bahamas Environmental, Science, & Technology Commission (BEST Commission) standards, and other laws of The Bahamas

· Site Selection Assistance- Whether it’s an industrial site, warehousing/office space, or farm or agricultural land that potential investors are looking for, NBU can assist in finding the best site at the most competitive price

· Project Management- NBU can provide project managers, engineers, and accountants for any and all aspects of an investor’s planned or proposed project. We can also provide semi skilled to skilled manpower for the field aspect of the project.

At NBU there is equal excitement in what their expertise can provide to local companies, such as turnkey solutions for starting a business. Their preventative maintenance programs can reduce maintenance cost and improve equipment reliability. Through their safety, health and environmental training programs the negative impact on the environment and employee injuries can also significantly be reduced.

NBU’s energy audits reduce electricity bills with recommendations and implementations such as installing solar, wind and other renewable energy systems. Reductions of up to 90% of electricity bill has been recorded with off-grid system installation, and with a grid-tie system.

From a national perspective, NBU realizes the Government’s priority to initiate plans to lower the cost of electricity in The Bahamas, modernize policies for industries, and implement industry training in Grand Bahama. NBU is poised to help the Government in achieving these programs through the consolidation of local resources and its vast network of international resources. The firm further highlighted that this would undoubtedly not only benefit Grand Bahama stakeholders; but stakeholders throughout the Bahamas.